Well that was a nice easy title to kick things off after a week’s vacation. All that fresh sea air and funnel cake at the Jersey Shore really refreshed me spiritually. Of course the Atlantic City Expressway had the reverse effect, so I guess I have to call it a wash. This week, James Jones and his five steals in two weeks is getting the lede. Jones went from being more of a deep/AL-only play to mixed league relevant rather quickly. His biggest asset in fantasy is obviously the speed, and he’s now 17-for-18 in stolen base attempts in just 228 plate appearances. The 25-year-old outfielder bats from the left side and he’s a no-brainer add if you need some cheap steals out of an OF5 slot. Jones will face off against the Twins and Athletics this week. The Twins are just outside the top ten in MLB for steals allowed. By the by, it’s hard not to think of James Earl Jones when discussing this guy. My association with JEJ isn’t Darth Vader or Field of Dreams, though. It’s as the host of Long Ago & Far Away, a trippy claymation style kid’s show. Maybe there are some other thirty-somethings out there who remember the Pied Piper episode as vividly as I do. I digress. Here are some other steals plays for this week in 2014 fantasy baseball…

I give Gentry a spin every now and again when I have a short schedule and need some speed in my lineup. He’s made the most of a part-time role, swiping 15 bags in 154 plate appearances. Coco Crisp has had some on and off again neck issues as well, so keep an eye on this guy should Crisp miss any extended time. In deep leagues, he can give a team a speed boost from the wire and will likely still be there the next time you need him. San Francisco has allowed 60 steals so far this season, which is good for T-6th in MLB.

EY2 has seen at-bats from the leadoff spot against right-handed pitching recently. His three-steal outburst against the Pirates last week is an example of what he can bring to the table. The Pirates, by the way, have overtaken the Padres as the best team to run against this year. EY2 draws the Braves and Marlins this week. Both teams are in the top ten for stolen bases allowed. He’s a great play for speed this period.

Even with the Ibanez signing, Dyson should see his increased playing time continue while Aoki is sidelined. Like Gentry, Dyson is SAGNOF in it’s purest form. He has a limited role, but he’s one of the best at getting the most steals out of his plate appearances. This year he has swiped 13 bags in just 144 plate appearances. At such a low ownership, you can really stream him for steals in daily leagues. He’s not a great play in weekly leagues as he sits against LHP. Dyson gets the Tigers this week, a top ten team in stolen bases allowed.

Stubbs should really be rostered for more than just his speed, as frequent commentator and dynasty leaguer extraordinaire Goodfold2 pointed out a couple of weeks ago. He’ll be especially interesting this week against the Padres at home. San Diego is second in MLB for stolen bases allowed. Tuesday’s starter, Tyson Ross, has been especially bad at holding baserunners.

Alcantara is listed as SS eligible at ESPN, but he’s getting reps in the outfield in the minor leagues. He’s similar to Mookie Betts in his fantasy impact without the crazy hype. Alcantara has ten homers to go along with 21 steals in just 86 games this season. While it’s unclear when exactly he will be called up, he has swiped 25+ bags in each of his last two minor league seasons and should be stashed if you have a slot for him.

i remember james earl jones shooting a snake at Conan’s broad and killing her…..that’s what James Jones will do to a fantasy team, I think. Have watched him play and am not sure he can hit MLB pitching over the long haul and has NIL power.

@Mike: Thanks, I got a couple options involving MI, but I got a crap load of OFs and I don’t want to stream MIs. After trading Harper my OF would be Polano, Springer, Marte, Hamilton, Calhoun and JD Martinez. Doesn’t seem like Harper would be a giant loss. This was after trading Dee Gordon and Alex Gordon for closers. It’s been a good offensive year.

you can always ride Harper and the rest of your offense and improve pitching in other ways…I’d rather have a stacked offense to carry me than rely on my arms to do so…it’s a fair trade but I get the sense it’s not a move you have to make…

@Mike: Yeah, the more and more I think about it, I think I’ll try to stream pitchers in. I just wish Calhoun or Martinez would go back to mediocre so I wouldn’t have to decide which to play in my UTIL most every day.

Hey mike, would you drop Matt Holliday to add either kole Calhoun or oscar taveras? It would be to for OF debth, basically comes down who do you like ROS between those three. I like Holliday just didn’t know if you like those two others better as an extra OF.

Keep Alexei Ramirez or look to trade / drop him? I have dee Gordon too & he’s eligible at SS my 2b is pedroia & he’s warming up, yeah it’s awesome to have depth there; injuries , or If anyone of them starts to not perfom well. W/ Gordon I’ve been playing him at SS his too good to sit

Would you drop any of my outfield (3 OF ROTO, 9 team) to get Calhoun?
Or would you pick Calhoun up by dropping someone from my team to play Calhoun in DH slot?
Also looks like Betts is heading down. Pick one: Zobrist, Hardy, Simmons, Rollins, Peralta: Need HR 3, and steals 6
Thanks, although there will be no fruit cakes, you deserve a steak.

Hey Mike, would love to get your opinion – 14 team roto keeper, very competitive. I have the opportunity to get Bryce/Latos for Wacha and one of Holliday, Melky, Dickerson or Werth. Can you rank who you’d prefer to give up in that deal on my end?

thanks Mike, i don’t know if “extraordinare” is applicable, it is if simply being in a few 16 and up leagues makes one so. yeah i dropped stubbs when he was a little cold in that 16 teamer i had him in. cron was hot and i wasn’t dropping rajai and needed a backup 1B for pujols really, in case he ever got hurt. stubbs is gone and got hot again. he’ll likely retain value until cargo comes back, and probably will lose a bit or more than that at that time. At least i hope he does, since i still have dickerson in that league and like 3 others. it was nice for a while having dickerson/stubbs/rutledge in that league.